Opponents of a proposed gay marriage
bill in Illinois are working against its passage by claiming that
being gay is a choice.

David Smith, the head of the Illinois
Family Institute (IFI) and “ex-gay” Linda Jernigan, who is
working with the group to counter the measure, appeared on Total
Living Network (TLN) to discuss their opposition. TLN is available
on Chicago Cable and Sky Angel, as
well as online.

The IFI is among the at least nine
organizations forming the Coalition to Protect Children and Marriage,
the nascent coalition formed to lobby lawmakers against making
Illinois the 10th state to legalize gay marriage.

In the special report, Smith and
Jernigan repeatedly state that being gay is a choice, and Jernigan
adds that “millions” have altered their sexual orientations.

“The media will have you to believe
there's no such thing as an ex-gay,” Jernigan
said. “I know there are thousands of people, millions of
people who have exited homosexuality. The thing about it is, because
of the abuse and because of the shame and because of the
embarrassment they do not yet have the courage to come out and say,
'Hey, I'm delivered. I'm an ex-gay.' But there are millions.”

Jernigan also stated that gay people
abuse substances, engage in domestic abuse and attempt suicide
because “there is no peace … the laws do not bring peace.”
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